146 OPHIDIA. 
1. Homalocranium miniatum. | 
Tantilla miniata, Cope, Proc. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. 1863, p. 100; Journ. Ac. N. Se. Phil. viii. p. 144 
(1876). 
Hab, Mexico, Mirador, near Vera Cruz (Cope). 
Vertical shield scarcely longer than broad. Seven upper labials ; posterior nasal in 
contact with the anteocular; one ante- and two postoculars. Temporals two large, 
two small. The median lower labial in contact with the chin-shields. Scales in 
thirteen rows. Blackish brown above, a yellow collar two scales wide across the neck 
and touching the occipitals; lower parts salmon-coloured. 
2. Homalocranium atriceps, sp.n. (Tab. LII. fig. B.) 
Hab. Mexico, Nuevo Leon (W. Taylor). 
Head narrow, flat, and depressed ; eye small, not quite one-third the length of the 
snout. Vertical shield of moderate width, with a very obtuse angle in front, and a 
very pointed one behind. Seven upper labials, of which the hindmost is rather higher 
than the sixth; posterior nasal generally in contact with the anteocular; one ante- 
and two postoculars; temporals 1+1. The first pair of lower labials are in contact 
with each other. Scales in fifteen rows; ventrals 127; subcaudals 58. Upper parts 
uniform light reddish olive; upper part of the head blackish, bordered behind by a 
Bocourt describes them in the same manner, but figures them as joining in the median line! The safest way, 
therefore, will be to rely upon the original figure given by Blainville, which agrees with that of Bocourt and 
with the arrangement of these shields in the specimen in the British Museum. 
Homalocranium gracile. 
Tantilla gracilis, Baird & Gir. Cat. N.-Amer. Rept., Serp. p. 182 (1853); Cope, Journ. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. Vili. 
p. 143 (1876); Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. viii. no. 3, p. 87, t. 6. fig. 3 (1883). 
Homatocranion gracile, Jan, Arch. per la Zool. ii. p. 50 (1862) ; Iconogr. Ophid. xv. t. 2. fig. 1. 
? Homalocranion gracilis, Bocourt, Miss. Sc. Mex., Rept. p. 579, t. 36. figg. 5, 5 a—d, 
Tantilla hallowellii, Cope, Proc. Ac. N. Se. Phil. 1860, p. 77. 
Hab. Norra America, Texas, Duval Co. (W. Taylor), Indianola (B. & G.). 
Head short, flat, with the snout rather produced; eye small, nearly one-fourth of the length of the snout. 
Vertical shield very broad, with a very obtuse angle in front and a pointed one behind; six upper labials ; the 
posterior nasal separated from or in contact with the anteocular; one ante- and one postocular; temporals 
1+1. Median lower labial generally in contact with the chin-shields. Scales in fifteen rows, without apical 
groove. Ventrals114 or 115. Anal divided; subcaudals 46 to 48. Upper parts uniform very light brownish ; 
head greyish above; lower parts white. 
Bocourt possibly describes and figures a different species, in which the first pair of labials are in contact 
with each other, separating the mental from the chin-shields. The British Museum possesses a similar 
specimen from Texas. 
